Sikkim students and opposition ask centre to delay Dushyant Gautam’s governor appointment

Protest in Gangtok

Students and residents gathered outside the District Administrative Centre in Gangtok on Saturday, Oct 17, 2026, holding candles and placards demanding that the centre defer the appointment of senior BJP leader Dushyant Kumar Gautam as Sikkim governor. The demonstration was described by organiser Anjali as a citizen‑led, non‑partisan effort to keep the issue in public view.

Demand for a Hold on the Appointment

The protestors are not asking for Gautam’s removal outright; they want the centre to wait until the CBI completes its investigation into the alleged VIP involvement in the Ankita Bhandari murder case. One participant, CL Chettri, told News9live, “I don’t have a problem with the appointment, but until the case is cleared, he should not be appointed.”

Political Reactions

The Sikkim unit of the Congress and the Sikkim Democratic Front (SDF) echoed the demonstrators’ call. According to The Hindu Bureau, State Congress president Gopal Chhetri urged President Droupadi Murmu to recall Gautam until the probe is finished. The SDF women’s wing chief Komal Chamling called the appointment an “insult to women” and questioned whether the centre believed Sikkimese people would accept decisions imposed without consultation.

Background: Ankita Bhandari Murder Case

Ankita Bhandari, 19, was a receptionist at the Vanantra Resort in Rishikesh, Uttarakhand. She disappeared on Sept 18, 2022, after reportedly refusing to provide sexual services to a VIP, and her body was found in a drain four days later. In May 2023, resort owner Pulkit Arya and two employees, Saurabh Bhaskar and Ankit Gupta, were convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment.

The case resurfaced after Bhandari’s parents alleged that the unnamed “VIP” mentioned in the investigation could be Gautam. The CBI registered a fresh enquiry in February 2026, following a recommendation from Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami in January 2026. Gautam has denied any involvement and is not named in the chargesheet.

What Comes Next?

Gautam’s oath‑taking is scheduled for Oct 19, 2026. The centre has not yet issued a statement on the protesters’ demand. Opposition leaders have called on the president to withhold the appointment, while the BJP has defended the decision, stating that Gautam’s record of public service merits the role.

Key facts at a glance

The next few days will likely see further statements from New Delhi, as the centre balances the need for a swift gubernatorial appointment with the political pressure from Sikkim’s opposition and civil society.